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For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home. You want it to reflect your style and taste. It can be a bit of a challenge to personalize a rental space as you’re usually discouraged from making any permanent or structural changes. It is possible with a little ingenuity though. Here are our best tips for decorating your apartment kitchen that will help you make it your own.

Organize

Clutter makes a tight space feel even more cramped. Before you make any redecorating decisions for your apartment kitchen, it’s time to get organized. First things first -- take an inventory of the items in your kitchen. Which ones do you use every day? Which items are used on special occasions, and which items may as well still be in their original packaging? Why not donate or ‘re-gift’ that never-used ice cream maker to free up some space?

Once you’ve gotten rid of the items you don’t need, it’s much easier to organize your space more efficiently. A good drawer divider and/or drawer organizers can keep drawers from falling back into disarray. This two-tier cabinet organizer has a small footprint and makes great use of tight height and depth space. A few magnetic spice jars stuck to the refrigerator is a simple and stylish way to combat clutter. Keep your pots, pans and bakeware organized and accessible with a simple cabinet rack. 

Carts, stools and free-standing shelves. 

If you have any free floor space to spare, you can really transform the look and feel of your kitchen. You could opt for a free-standing pot rack or small kitchen cart. A pair of fun and fashionable stools can instantly create an eating space and add a whimsical splash of colour -- without making any permanent changes that could impact your security deposit. 

Throw down a rug

Another great way to add some colour and dimension to your apartment kitchen without painting or drilling holes is to simply lay a rug runner or mat on the floor. An anti-fatigue mat is padded for comfort, water-resistant and anti-slip. You will be amazed at how it can change the look and feel of your kitchen. It really ties the room together. 

Living colour

A lovely houseplant or two is the perfect way to add life and colour to your kitchen. The plants can be purely decorative, or they can serve double-duty as a fresh herb garden. Even if your kitchen is lacking natural light, there are automated mini gardens that include lights! Good thing you just freed up some counter space!

Mirrors

The magic of mirrors is not that they can tell you who’s the fairest of them all ─ it’s that they can magically make any space feel much larger. A well-placed mirror will not only create an illusion of increased space, but it will also reflect light and make the kitchen feel brighter and more open. Magic!

Under-cabinet lighting

Illuminating the darker corners of your kitchen can seem impossible. Mirrors can help reflect light and make the space feel larger, but there has to be some light to reflect. Under the cabinet lighting may be the answer you’re looking for. Of course, rewiring is out of the question in a rental apartment, but fortunately, there are many peel and stick, plug and play, solutions when it comes to under-the-cabinet lights. Choose from rechargeable USB LED light strips, stick magnet light bars that plug into an electric socket or even battery-operated puck lights. 

Kitchen art gallery

We spend a significant amount of time in our kitchens. Making a rental kitchen reflect your personality can be challenging. Putting some artwork on the walls of your kitchen is one way to instantly make the space feel like your own and it’s easy to remove when the time comes to move on. You don’t need a kitchen full of masterpieces -- it can be artwork that your kids have made, something you did yourself, found at a garage sale. Choose anything that speaks to you and reflects your personal taste. It’s going to have a big impact on how your space feels. 

Countertop cover ups

Older countertops are fairly common in apartment kitchens. Replacing or painting the countertops may not be an option, but you can transform the look of dated counters by simply covering them up with attractive cutting boards. A few faux marble or wood cutting boards can simply sit on top of your existing counter and alter the look immediately. 

*Bonus ─ Counter space on demand

This one isn’t necessarily a decor tip, but a simple kitchen hack. It can enhance the practicality of your kitchen and all it requires is a single item you probably already own. An ironing board can be used as additional counter space on demand! It’s heat resistant and adjustable to the right height for you! When you’re done in the kitchen, it folds up and goes back in the closet. 

We hope that these tips for how to decorate your apartment kitchen help you transform and personalize your space without making any permanent alterations that could cost you a security deposit. It’s a win-win!

For information on Panoramic Properties, please visit our website.